Who is Sheikh Hasina, ex-PM of Bangladesh who fled the country amid protests?

Who is Sheikh Hasina, ex-PM of Bangladesh who fled the country amid protests?

Aug 5, 2024  
Sheikh Hasina was once hailed as a democracy icon in Bangladesh for fighting a military regime. However, since 2008, she has been viewed as an authoritarian leader, accused of rights abuses and suppressing opposition. She won a fourth term in a controversial January 2024 election, boycotted by the main opposition and marked by low turnout. Born in 1947, she is the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father. She joined forces with her political foe in 1981 to topple a military ruler. She first became prime minister in 1996, lost in 2001, and has been in power since a 2008 landslide, despite allegations of fraud in subsequent elections.

Al Jazeera’s Victoria Gatenby takes a look back at Sheikh Hasina's political career.